THE USE OF POTASSIUM SALTS UNIQUE PROPERTIES FOR SUPPRESSION OF POTATO PATHOGENS DURING STORAGE PERIOD

Abstract

Natural sylvinite has the property to produce light air ions due to air molecules contact with potassium and sodium cations. Such environment has the ability to inhibit the growth of potato pathogens. In given report the results of different methods of medium saturation with light negative ions are presented. The studied treatments were following: the surface from bulk sylvinite; aerosol generator (blowing air through salt filters). The filters with lumpy sylvinite filling and special pills from pressed sylvinite were used. Various modes of airing regimes were evaluated – three and six hours a day. The safety of tubers for the storage period, as well as the qualitative set of potato pathogens were assessed. The least number of infected tubers was noted in treatments with “pill”salt filter with three hours ventilation regime and the surface from bulk sylvinite (0.56 and 0.57%, respectively), the largest number of diseased tubers - in the control variant - 1.18%. The smallest mass loss of tubers in the period from January 29 to April 14 was recorded in the treatment with pill salt filter with with three hours ventilation regime - 1.53%, the maximum loss - when using a surface from bulk sylvinite - 2.9%. After studies in typical storages equipped with standard ventilation systems, a technology for potato storage, based on the creation favorable air environment saturated with negative air ions and saline aerosol, will be developed.

Key words: potato storage, sylvinite, air ions, salt aerosol, potato pathogens.